Musical rhythm-producing toy



NOV. 4, 1952 A, 1, BROWN 2,616,218

MUSICAL RHYTHM-PRODUCING TOY Filed Sept. 15, 1950 yflmm mm mm A TTOENE vs.

Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSICAL RHYTHM-PRODUCING THY,

Aaron I. Brown, Mount Vernon, N. Y.

Application September 15, 1950, Serial No. 185,132

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to musical toys, and more particularly to a sounding device of the clapper type.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved musical toy which is very simple in construction, which is easy to use, and which may be operated to give rhythmic sounds similar to drum beats or the sounds produced in tap dancing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved clapper toy which is very inexpensive to manufacture, which is sturdy in construction, which is very easy to use, and which provides a substantial degree of entertainment.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of one form of musical toy constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the musical toy of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional, detail view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the connected end portions of the sounding elements of the toy in a modified form of the invention;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on line 68 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the sounding device is designated generally at II and may comprise a pair of identical spoons I2, [2 arranged with their bowl portions I3 positioned back to back, as shown. Designated at H is a U-shaped leaf spring whose ends are fastened by rivets l5 to the ends of the respective spoons I2. Alternatively, the ends of the leaf spring may be soldered, welded, or rigidly secured to the ends of the spoons in any other suitable manner. As a further alternative, the spring may be made integral with the spoons. With the ends of the spoons l2, l2 thus connected, the spring 14 maintains said spoons in the plane of the spring, but allows the spoons to oscillate in said plane relative to each other. In using the toy, the device I is held in one hand and one of the spoons is separated from the other and allowed to spring back, whereby the bowl portion of one spoon strikes the bowl portion of the other spoon, producing a loud sound. The operator of the device rhythmically separates the spoons and allows them to spring back, thereby producing the rhythmic sounds simulating the sounds of a tap dancer or the sounds produced by a drum. Another method of use is to hold the spoons loosely in one hand and, by striking the lower spoon against one thigh (the user being seated), or by striking the thighs alternately with the spoons, one spoon is made to click against the other spoon by the yieldability of th spring and the inertia of the spoons. Repeated periodic beats may be thus produced, following the rhythm of music and simulating the sound of tap dancing or drum beats.

Instead of employing spoons, any suitable pair of identical members having concavely bowed portions may be employed in the device, such as a pair of knives or a pair of forks, and the members may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, wood, plastic, or the like.

Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6, the spoons or other similar sounding elements are designated at l2, l2, and the U-shaped spring member is designated at I4. Designated at I5, 15' are sleeve members of elastic material, such as rubber or the like, which are secured to the respective ends of the leaf spring l4 and tightly receiv the ends of the sounding members I2, I 2', as shown. The sleeve members l5, l5 provide secure connections of the ends of the soundin members [2, 12' to the ends of the leaf spring H, whereby the sounding members will be resiliently connected together in substantially the same manner as in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

The leaf spring H or 14' may have any suitable configuration, and may be formed with multiple bowed portions, or may be otherwise suitably formed, if so desired.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved sounding toy or clapper have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A clapper of the character described comprising a pair of spoons arranged back-to-back, each spoon having a bowl portion, the respective bowl portions of the spoons being disposed adjacent each other, and a U-shaped leaf spring secured to and connecting the ends-of the spoons. whereby the bowl portion of one spoon will strike:

the bowl portion of the other spoon when the spoons are separated and then released. FERENCES CITED 2. A clapper 01' the charac described The following references are of record in the prising a pair of spoons arranged back-to-back, fil of this patent; each spoon having a bowl portion, the respective 5 bowl portions of the spoons being disposed ad- UNITED STATES PATENTS jacent to each other, a U-shaped leaf spring, and Number Name Date respective sleeves of elastic material on the ends ,258,558 Graveline Mar. 5, 1918 of the leaf spring and tightly receiving the ends 1,761,245 Vitto June 3, 1930 of the spoons, connecting the ends of the spoons 10 2,4 Di'Angelo June 7, 1949 to the leaf spring, whereby the bowl portion of 2,491,037 Dofsen Dec. 13, 1949 one spoon will strike the bowl portion of the other spoon when the spoons are separated and then released. AARON r. BROWN. 15 

